Consumption of one egg a day helps children grow taller and healthier. This shows a 6-month study conducted in Ecuador.
Whether hard-boiled, fried or on an omelet, eggs give strength to teens. They are a cheap way to increase their growth, say scientists who published the results of the study in the journal Pediatrics .
The first two years of a child's life are most important for his development, especially for the formation of his growth. Malnutrition in childhood is one of the main causes of short stature in children, along with various infections and more serious diseases. According to the World Health Organization , 155 million children under the age of 5 are short.
Laura Ainotti and her colleagues are doing their experiment in the poor rural areas of Ecuador. They give young children (6 to 9 months of age) one egg a day to see if their development will change. Only 160 of the children in the study consumed this product for 6 months. Another group was studied to have a basis for comparison. The researchers visited the families every week and checked that they followed the instructions strictly. They also collected information on how the consumption of eggs affects their health, whether, for example, they have experienced any side effects such as allergies.
At the end of the study, the number of children who were shorter decreased. The results showed that there was an improvement in the growth of about 47% of those who ate one egg a day for 6 months. In addition to proving the benefits of this animal product on the health of children, scientists have found that it is also suitable for children with smaller stomachs. "Some crops do not find eggs an important part of their children's menu, mainly because they are thought to cause allergies. However, they must be part of a balanced healthy diet, with which children grow more, "commented scientists from the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health. And they specify that young children should start consuming them no earlier than 4 months of age.